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Sea Urchin
Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin

Maker (born 1935)
Subject or historical figure (born 1935)
DateSeptember 1992
Object numberANMS1468[096]
NamePhotographic slide
MediumColour transparency film
DimensionsOverall (inc carrier): 50 × 50 mm
Copyright© Valerie Taylor
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor
DescriptionThis photographic collection represents the career of filmmakers and ocean conservationists Valerie Taylor AM (born 1935) and her late husband Ron Taylor AM (1934-2012). The couple pioneered skin-diving, scuba diving and underwater photography and cinematography in Australia. Valerie was national spear fishing champion for three years in the 1960s, Ron for four years, however the couple soon stopped fishing and shifted focus to shark research, photography and film. They made chain mail diving suits to film sharks and became strong advocates for shark preservation. Throughout their careers, the Taylor's made numerous trips to Papua New Guinea and surrounding pacific islands in order to film and dive. This archive features photographs taken by the Taylor's of PNG highland and Sepik river communities, the ASMAT community of West Papua, and images taken on the Trobrian and Solomon Islands. There are portrait photos of community members, images of Sepik dancers, and individuals in ceremonial dress. Many of the photos also document the canoes and watercraft used in each region.SignificanceThe simplest definition of macro photography is taking a picture of something so that it appears larger than it is in real life. This technique reveals the tiny hidden wonders of our world. In the early 1970s, Ron made Valerie the first known macrophotography set up for an underwater camera, with extension tubes and framers. Her stunning close-up shots of Great Barrier Reef corals were the cover story for the June 1973 issue of National Geographic. With this setup, Valerie was able to take some of the first high quality macro photographs of very small creatures, like the echinoderms seen in this archive.
Sea Urchin
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Sea Urchin
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Sea Urchin
Valerie Taylor
September 1992
Untitled
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Untitled
Valerie Taylor
October 1998
Untitled
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Untitled
Valerie Taylor
1953-2000
Untitled
Valerie Taylor
September 1994
Untitled
Valerie Taylor
October 1998